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Conservation Insider
Hello Roxanna,
Summer is almost here! As you probably noticed a good amount of things are changing over here at Comal Conservation. In December of last year the board voted to change the name of our organization from Comal County Conservation Alliance to Comal Conservation. This was done in conjunction with the creation of a new brand script. Over the last 4 months we have been working with our very own MV Poffenberger to develop a new dynamic brand. MV has worked in graphic design and helped many of our local environmental NGOs with logos, campaigns and other graphic design work. However, this brand is very special.
The two rivers on either side of our name represent the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers. They are depicted the style of cattle brand which represents our rural heritage. Above the brand you will find a variety of plants and animals. Each of these "critters" were hand drawn by MV herself and they imbue the brand with our mission. Every time someone looks at our website or Facebook page or a piece of letterhead they have an opportunity to learn about the local flora and fauna of the Texas Hill Country. I can't begin to thank MV enough for her devotion to this work. It is truly a labor of love and we are so grateful for her passion for this process.
Over the next 4 months the board will be unveiling a new website which embraces our new brand and identity and they will be drafting a five year strategic plan which will empower our volunteers and staff increasing our impact.
Our work to preserve land, water, and wildlife has never been more necessary and we need your support now more than ever. You can make a difference by volunteering, donating to the cause, speaking up in support conservation efforts and exploring the incredibly beautiful natural areas that make living in Comal County so wonderful.
The Hill Country needs you. If you feel like I do, that we need to protect these incredible resources now then please consider joining our Comal Conservation Champions group by making a recurring donation in support of Comal Conservation on our website.
Ryan K Spencer Executive Director Comal Conservation
COMAL CONSERVATION NEWS
Nominations Open:
Jensie Madden Comal Conservation Award
Celebrating Environmental Stewardship in Comal County
2023 Award Recipients:Sisters Joyce Moore & Cindy MartinezThe Jensie Madden Comal Conservation Award was created to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the preservation of land, water, and wildlife in our community.About the Award: Established in honor of Jensie Simms Madden, a beloved advocate for environmental conservation in Comal County, this award celebrates her legacy and the contributions of those who share her passion for protecting our natural resources. The award seeks to acknowledge outstanding vision, leadership, and commitment to environmental stewardship.Nomination Process: Do you know someone who has made significant contributions to conservation efforts in Comal County? Nominate them for the Jensie Madden Comal Conservation Award! Click the link below to access the nomination form and recognize individuals or groups who are making a positive impact on our environment.Visit our website for more information on the nomination and selection process.
This month, we spoke with Leesa Brieger, Comal Conservation's Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee. Leesa, a descendant of Comal County founders, hails from Fischer, Texas. As a heritage ranch landowner, she is dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural resources of Fischer and the entire county through her work with Comal Conservation. The headshot included above features a picture of her Grandma Fischer behind her.How long have you lived in Comal County and what brought you here?I grew up in Fischer (north Comal County), while living in the Houston area. What I mean is that we were very often up at my grandparents' home in Fischer, where my mother grew up - Christmases, Easters, weekends, summers, etc. So I grew up here without actually quite living here - until 5 years ago, when I returned to Texas to live in my grandparents' 100-year old house on the family ranch.What do you love most about the Hill Country?The extended family, the hills, the trees, the waterways [...]Why are you passionate about Comal Conservation?The land out in Fischer provided the livelihood of our family after they landed here from Germany 170 years ago. We have stewarded this land ever since; it is the anchor for our extended family, almost a member of the family. Seeing the natural resources of this county squandered for a quick buck is contrary to our whole concept of caring for the land. It would be completely foreign to me *not* to work for conservation of Comal's natural resources.What are your hopes for the organization during your tenure?I hope that Comal Conservation becomes stronger in its advocacy, including with the County Commissioners. I hope we are able to catalyze more conservation activities in Comal and then participate in the follow-up and get more things done. Protection of undeveloped land is one priority. Innovative development strategies that conserve water and protect accessible open land within a development are my particular interests - there are many possibilities for responsible development than are currently being explored that would benefit homeowners and the environment....we're thrilled to have Leesa among our ranks!
Looking for a way to help protect Comal's rivers and springs?
Preserving Comal County's natural beauty and rural character is a job for the whole community. Won't you join the effort? CCCA is looking for volunteers to help advance the conservation work in Comal County by helping CCCA in one of the following areas:
Event Planning
Website Maintenance
Grant Writing
Interested candidates should submit their contact information and interests below!
Step into a riveting conversation between Kaitie Moore Underwood, Communications Chair of Comal Conservation, and Marjesca Brown, a Real Estate Associate deeply involved in the transformative Great Springs Project. This 20-min interview explores the ambitious vision of linking Austin and San Antonio through protected lands over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Picture a vibrant 100-mile trail connecting the four iconic springs of Central Texas (Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, and San Antonio Springs) and forging pathways for communities and ecosystems. Through unified action, the Great Springs Project addresses critical water, land, wildlife, and public health challenges in Central Texas. Join us as we dive into a dynamic narrative of conservation and collaboration.
WHAT: Year 6 of the Sweaty Yeti marks the inaugural trail run in New Braunfels, driven by a passion for the outdoors, hiking, running, and trails. Proceeds from the race support the Comal Trails Alliance, furthering their mission to advocate for additional trails in Comal County.
WHEN: Saturday, June 01, 20248:00 am CST
WHERE: 32 Gazebo Circle New Braunfels, Texas 78130
"Our Comal County Commissioners Take a Good Strong Step!"
by Frank Dietz, for the H-Z May, 2024
“In the first days of April, following considerable discernment and consultation, our Comal Commissioners Court stepped toward the future to affirm a Parks, Open Space, and Natural Areas Master Plan. This plan is based on extensive citizen input and the precious natural gifts of Comal County. We live in a whirlwind time of population growth and the needs for housing and commerce accompanying such an influx. It is incumbent on us to have a vision and some sense of best smart growth lest the children we seek to rear here in Comal County be denied what attracts so many to our rivers, springs and hills. For those children and all of us, a special word of thanks goes to our County Commissioners who enabled Halff Associates and the many with whom they engaged to develop a vision and basis for future efforts. The thrust of the decision and plan is to seek out willing partners, special funders and land owners hoping to enhance open green space for the future with their legacy acres. The signal is for gifting and enabling a future that enhances parks, trails, open space and our natural wonders to be a part of the future we hand off as the generations flow toward a lively healthy future. No budgetary items or staff positions are called for in the detailed plan, just a vision and some helpful clues to envision the future.
Texas is globally important for birds. Approximately 1 of every 3 birds migrating through the U.S. in spring, and 1 of every 4 birds migrating through the U.S. in the fall, or nearly two billion birds, passes through Texas in one of the planet’s great wildlife spectacles.
Majority of North American birds migrating travel at night! Unfortunately, light emanating from our cities can disorient birds, leaving them confused and vulnerable...
Comal County groups have seen success in preserving natural resources
Written by Blain Young
It’s no secret that Comal County is growing.
Changes are easily marked by the number of bulldozers clearing land along River Road, State Highway 46 and FM 306.
Texas Demographic Center estimates show that the county’s population grew by about 28,000 people from 2020 to the beginning of 2023.
With the current Texas economy, an influx of new residents is inevitable. More housing is necessary to support those residents.
Too often, this growth comes at the expense of land and water conservation.
But a few recent successes show that preserving natural resources doesn’t always have to be a contentious fight between private landowners and public entities.
The city of New Braunfels recently approved the $8 million purchase of 130 acres of parkland near FM 1102 and Conrads Lane.
The park could have woodland trails and other recreational amenities.
City council member Lawrence Spradley said the “untouched greenspace” is a huge win for the area.
Groundwater feeds creeks and imaginations Written by Daniel Oppenheimer
Paul Babb chronicles his life by rivers. Born just south of the Red River, Babb recalls touchstone encounters with the Red before his family moved to the Brazos and later to the Sabine in East Texas.
Paul Baab, standing, will soon take over as General Manager for the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District, for the retiring Paul Tybor. He has called the rivers of the Texas Hill Country home for more than 20 years. “The Hill Country is not Houston or even Bastrop. Things here are more arid, making water more finite and precious,” Babb says. He has now worked with Hill Country landowners and communities for decades to conserve this precious resource. To do so, he has focused on what’s beneath our feet.
Aquifers are inherently mysterious. They’re out of sight, tough to access, and further obscured by unfamiliar terminology. “Aquifers are highly complex systems. But fundamentally, we’re talking about rocks and dirt,” Babb says, avoiding geological jargon. We have multiple, interconnected aquifers in the Hill Country. Paul Babb has dedicated his life to shedding some of their mystery.
When Babb started college at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) along the San Marcos River, little was known about the Trinity Aquifer. “I was shocked at how ignorant we were. At the time, there simply weren’t the economic incentives in place to understand these groundwater systems—not like oil and gas reserves.”
The lifeblood of any nonprofit are its supporters. Comal Conservation has the most enthusiastic, steadfast, and hardest working volunteers I have ever seen. We launched our recurring donation campaign last week and we are already closing in on the 1,000 dollar a month target. To incentivize support the board has secured some new Comal Conservation Merchandise!
If you join our Comal Conservation Champions by making a pledge of at least 25 dollars a month you will receive a Comal Conservation Bandanna, featuring all of our critters, Four unique Comal Comal Conservation Stickers, and your very own Comal Conservation Tote to take it all home in.
Comal Conservation needs you now more than ever. Please consider making a tax deductible gift today!
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Comal County Conservation Alliance PO Box 2804 Canyon Lake, TX 78133
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